Iraq Unwilling to Host Foreign Ground Troops – Foreign Ministry

According to Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal, Iraq doesn't need foreign troops on its territory, but logistic support, arms and intelligence sharing instead.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iraq opposes the deployment of foreign troops, including those from the United States, on its territory, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"Several US military commanders and generals from the international anti-terrorist coalition imply that ground forces should be sent to Iraq to fight against Islamic State [IS]," Jamal said, adding that the country did not welcome the idea.

According to Jamal, the Iraqi Armed Forces were not in a state of distress, however he hailed the international support.

He added that instead of foreign soldiers Baghdad needed logistic support, arms and intelligence sharing from the countries of the US-led anti-ISIL international coalition.

ISIL is a jihadist group that has been seizing large areas of Syria and Iraq since 2014, declaring a caliphate on the territories under its control.

The US-led international coalition of more than 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL positions in both Syria and Iraq.